Lineage and tradition in Reiki practice provide essential energetic connection to the source of this healing art while ensuring the integrity and potency of the teachings passed from master to student through generations. The unbroken lineage from Mikao Usui through verified teachers creates an energetic river that each practitioner joins through attunement, receiving not just technique but accumulated wisdom and power. Understanding one’s lineage helps practitioners appreciate their place within a greater healing tradition, fostering humility and respect for those who preserved and transmitted these teachings. Different lineages may emphasize various aspects of practice or include additional techniques, yet all authentic lineages trace back to the original source through documented teacher-student relationships. The traditional structure of degrees and attunements ensures systematic development, preventing premature exposure to energies students aren’t prepared to channel safely. Lineage provides energetic protection and support, as practitioners can draw upon the strength of all previous masters when facing challenging healing situations. The oral tradition within lineages preserves teachings and experiences not captured in written materials, maintaining the living quality of Reiki transmission. Respect for lineage doesn’t mean rigid adherence to outdated forms but rather understanding the essence being preserved while allowing appropriate evolution. Some practitioners work with multiple lineages, finding that different streams offer complementary perspectives that enrich overall understanding and practice. The energy signature of specific lineages can be felt by sensitive practitioners, with each line carrying unique qualities while maintaining core Reiki essence. Traditional elements such as hand positions, symbols, and attunement procedures maintain consistency that allows Reiki to remain recognizable and effective across cultures and generations. Questions about lineage help identify authentic teachers versus those who may have received incomplete training or created their own systems without proper foundation. The master-student relationship within lineage creates accountability and ongoing support that self-initiation or distance-only learning cannot provide. Modern practitioners balance honoring tradition with responding to contemporary needs, maintaining essential elements while adapting presentation for current contexts. Through understanding and respecting lineage, practitioners join a global family of healers united by common source and purpose, strengthening their individual practice through collective connection.